Reclining lounger and hardware therefor



March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ 3,243,226

I HEGLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed March 12 1964 5Sheets-Sheet. 1

ALEX JI KATZ A 7' TORNE X March 29. 1966 A. J. KATZ REGLINING LOUNGERAND HARDWARE THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1964 INVENTOR.ALEX 02 K4 T2 2 'fiTTMZA/E).

March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ RECLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR FiledMarch 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALEX J1 KATZ United StatesPatent 3,243,226 RECLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Alex J. Katz,Orange, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Super Sagless SpringCorporation, Amsterdam, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 12,1964, Ser. No. 351,325 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-85) This invention relates toreclining lounger-rockers, and

hardware therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a loungerrocker of thecharacter described, provided with highly improved means to block therocker against rearward rocking movement, automatically upon'moving theseat and backrest from the upright positions thereof to recliningposition. Should the backrest and seat be reclined while the rocker isin rocked back condition, the rocker blocking means in accordance withthe present invention, will tend to rock the rocker forwardly to uprightposition.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a lounger-recliner ofthe character described, overcenter spring means to yieldingly keep theleg rest or ottoman from opening up or the chair from reclining whileyou rock, and to also modify the rocker action of the platform springsas you rock back and forth, thereby to make for a better rocking action,said overcenter spring means comprising a pull spring which is tensionedas the rocker is rocked back to impart a yielding resistance to rearwardrocking in addition to the yielding resistance of the usual platformsprings.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improvide hardwarefor a lounger-rocker of the character described, including a pair ofmain bell cranks interconnected by a link, means to hold said bellcranks against movement as the ottoman or leg rest is projected 'and theseat and backrest move to an intermediate or TV reclined position, andsaid bell cranks serving as carriers for the seatwhen you go from TV tofully reclined position for floatingly supporting the seat and raisingthe seat with a parallelogram motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a chair of thecharacter described, means to block the rocker against rocking movementwhen the seat is moved and said blocking means being connected directlyto the seat so as to be controlled by its movement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide hardware of thecharacter described, having highly improved means to releasably locksaid two main bell cranks from moving as the ottoman is projected andthe seat and backrest are reclined to TV position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a loungerrocker of thecharacter described, comprising a platform or base, a rocker mountedthereon for rocking movement, a seat pivoted to a backrest which isconnected to the rocker by a link means, and said pair of bell cranksbeing connected to said seat by link means.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a lounger-rockerof the character described, in which one of said main bell cranks is afront bell crank, and means is provided, controlled by the front bellcrank to project a leg rest or ottoman as the seat and backrest movefrom upright to TV position; and in which the other main Patented Mar.29, 1966 ice bell crank is a rear bell crank and means is provided,controlled by the rear bell crank, to lock the bell cranks from movingas said seat and backrest move from said upright to said TV position,and in which said lock means is released when said seat and backrestreach TV position, to allow movement of said bell cranks, for allowingmovement of said seat and backrest to fully reclined position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lounger-rocker of thecharacter described, having means to retain the rocker blocker inoperative position as the seat and backrest move from TV position tofully reclined position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged anddurable recliner rocker of the character described, which shall berelatively inexpensive to manufacture, comfortable in use, easy tomanipulate without necessity for handles or other hand operated means,and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be more fully understood from the following description of apresently preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a top edge view of one side of a loungerrecliner and hardwaretherefor embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; andshowing the central position of the rocker and the upright position ofthe seat and backrest, with the blocker retracted;

FIG; 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the seat and backrest inTV position and the blocker in operative position to prevent rearwardrocking movement of the rocker; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the seat and backrest infully reclined position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a lounger-reclinerchair embodying the invention. Said chair comprises a platform 11 havinga pair of longitudinal side parts 12 having upper edges 13 and beinginterconnected by a front cross-rail 14, a rear rail 15 and a flathorizontal rail 16 extending rearwardly of said rear rail.

Mounted on the platform 11 for rocking movement is a rocker 18comprising a pair of said arm members 19 interconnected by bottomcross-rail 20, and by rear crossrail 21. Fixed to the side arms 19, inany suitable manner are a pair of rocker cams 23 having lower curvededges resting on the upper edges 13 of the platform, so that the rocker18 may rock back and forth. Usual platform springs (not shown) areprovided interconnecting the platform 11 with the rocker 18 to urge therocker to central upright position.

Fixed to the inner sides of side arms 19 are support plates 25. Pivotedto the rear end of each plate 25, as at 26, is a link 27. The upper endof each link 27 is pivoted, as at 28, to a bar 29 fixed to the backrest30. Said backrest 30 has a lower cross-rail 31. Bar 29 is located abovecross-rail 31 and is inclined slightly forwardly and upwardly when thebackrest 30 is in upright condition, as shown in FIG. 2. Pivoted to theforward end of each bar 29, as at 32, is a seat member 33. Each seatmember 33 has a portion 34 inclined forwardly and downwardly when thebackrest is in upright condition,

and extending from said portion, is a portion which is inclinedforwardly and upwardly. Fixed to said member 33 is a seat frame 36comprising side frame members 37 interconnected by a front seat framemember 38 and a rear seat frame member 39. A seat cushion or upholstery40 may be mounted on the seat frame. Said seat frame 36 and itsupholstery 40 comprise a seat 41.

The means, to be described in detail hereinafter, for supporting thebackrest 30, seat 36 and a leg rest 42, comprises similar, symmetricallydisposed hardware mechanisms on both sides of the chair, including theplates 25, links 27, bars 29 and seat members 33. The hardware on oneside only will therefore be described hereinafter.

Means is provided to cause the backrest 30 to recline as the seat 41 ismoved rearwardly, and also to tilt the front of the seat upwardly and toraise the seat as it moves rearwardly. To this end, there is privoted tothe rear of each plate 25, as at 45, a rear bell crank 46 having adownwardly projecting arm 47 and a forwardly extending arm 48.

Pivoted to an intermediate portion of plate 25, as at 49, is a frontbell crank 50 having a downwardly extending arm 51 and a forwardlyextending arm 52. Pivoted to the lower end of arm 47 or rear bell crank46, as at 52a, is a link 53, pivoted at its forward end, as at 54, tothe lower arm 51 of front bell crank 50.

Pivoted to the front end of arm 48 of rear bell crank 46, as at 55, is acontrol bell crank 56. Said bell crank 56 has an upwardly extending arm57 pivoted at its upper end, as at 58, to said portion 34 of seat member33, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Bell crank 56 has an arm 59inclined downwardly and forwardly, when the chair is in the uprightposition of FIG. 2. Arm 59 is formed with a longitudinal slot 60.Pivoted to plate 25, as at 61, is a lock link 62 provided with a pin 63projecting into and slidable in slot of arm 59. When the backrest 30 isin its upright position of FIG. 2 (with the seat 41 in its forward,sitting position), the pin 63 is at the lower end of slot 60. A stop lug65 on plate 25 engages the lower edge of arm 48 of rear bell crank 46when the backrest 30 is in its upright position of FIG. 2.

With the seat and backrest in the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2,bell cranks 46, 50 cannot rotate in a clockwise direction because pin 63engages an edge at the lower end of said slot 60, so that tendency torotate bell crank 46 will only cause a thrust on link 62 in itslongitudinal direction. A stop pin 66 on plate 25 is contacted by thelower edge of arm 52 of bell crank 50 when the chair is in sittingposition.

Pivoted to the forward end of said arm 52 of front bell crank 50, as at67, is an operating bell crank 68 having a rearwardly extending arm 69from the front end of which projects upwardly an arm 70. The pivot 67 isabout at the middle of arm 69. The upper end of arm 70 is pivoted, as at21, to portion 35 of seat memmber 33, rearwardly of the front end 72 ofsaid portion.

Lazy tongs mechanism 73 is provided to project the leg rest member orottoman 42. Said lazy tongs mechanism 73 comprises a link 74 pivoted atits upper end, as at 75, to the bell crank 68, at the junction of itsarms 69, 70. Pivoted to the lower end of link 74, as at 75a, is a link76. Pivoted to the front end of portion 35 of seat member 33, as at 77,is the upper end of link 78 which crosses and is interpivoted, as at 79,with link 76. Pivoted, as at 80, to the lower end of link 78, is a link81. Pivoted to the upper end of link 76, as at 82, is a link 83 whichcrosses and is interpivoted to link 81, as at 84. The upper end of link81 is pivoted, as at 85, to the upper end of a leg rest angle member 86to which leg rest or ottoman 42 is fixed. Pivoted to the lower end ofmember 86, as at 87 is a short link 88 which is pivoted at its lowerend, as at 89, to the lower end of link 83.

A stop pin 90 on link 78, located between pivots 77, 79, contacts link76 between pivots 79, 82, when the leg rest is retracted and the seatand back rest are in the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2 In suchposition the leg rest angle member 86, and the leg rest or ottomanmember 42 fixed thereto are in vertical position, extending down belowand in front of the front end of the seat, as shown in said FIG. 2.

A drive link 93 is pivoted at its rear end, as at 94, to the rear end ofarm 69 of operating bell crank 68. The front end of said drive link 93is pivoted, as at 95 to link 78 of the lazy tongs mechanism 73, betweenstop pin 90 and pivot 77.

The movements of the seat 41 and backrest 30 and leg rest 42 will now bedescribed, beginning with the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2. Asthe person sitting in the chair presses rearward on the seat 41 orbackrest the leg rest will be projected and the seat and backrest willmove to intermediate reclining position or TV position. During thisphase of the movement, the bell cranks 46, 50 do not rotate for thereason explained above. However, during such movement, link 27 swingsrearwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, andthe backrest reclines to an intermediate position.

Also bell crank 56 rotates in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2.It will be understood that the seat is supported on the bell cranks 56,68 providing a parallelogram type movement of said bell cranks, when theseat member 33 moves rearwardly. Rotation of the control bell crank 56causes rotation in a clockwise direction of link 62, while pin 63remains at one end of slot 60. During this phase of movement, rotationof bell crank 68 causes drive link 93 to cause movement of the lazytongs mechanism from the retracted position of FIG. 2 to the leg restprojected position of FIG. 3.

When the seat and backrest are in the TV or partially reclined positionof FIG. 3, arm 59 of bell crank 56 and link 62 are in forwardly andsomewhat upwardly tilted position. Further pressure on the seatrearwardly or rearwardly on the backrest, will cause movement of theseat and backrest from the TV position of FIG. 3 to the fully reclinedposition of FIG. 4. During this phase of movement, bell cranks 46, 50rotate simultaneously in clockwise directions. The pin and slotconnection of arm 59 and link 62 no longer prevents or locks the bellcrank 46 against rotation. Rotation of the bell cranks 46, 50 raise theseat 41 and further incline the seat forwardly and upwardly and suchmovement causes further reclining movement of the backrest. During suchmovement, furthermore, the lazy tongs mechanism and the leg rest areraised upwardly A stop lug 98 on plate 25 serves to engage an upper edgeof arm 48 of bell crank 46 to limit clockwise swinging of said bellcrank During movement from TV position of FIG. 3 to the fully reclinedposition of FIG. 4, pin 63 slides back in slot 60. In the fully reclinedposition of FIG. 4, link 27 substantially contacts an upper inclinededge 21a of rail 21.

Means is provided to block rearward rocking movement of the rocker 18when the seat and backrest are moved to TV and to fully reclinedposition of FIGS. 3 and 4, while permitting rocking of the rocker ineither direction when said seat and backrest are in upright position ofFIG. 2.

To this end, there is fixed to the underside of rear rail or member 39of the seat frame 36, at each side of said frame, a bracket 100 having adepending apertured ear 101 to which is pivoted, as at 102, a link 103which extends almost horizontally rearwardly when the chair is in theposition of FIG. 2.

Fixed to the inner side of each side arm 19, at the lower rear end ofthe latter, is a bracket 104. Pivoted to said bracket 104, as at 105, isa bell crank 106. Said bell crank 106 comprises an arm 107 pivoted as at108 to the rear end of link 103. Extending from said arm 107 and forminga V therewith is a second arm 109 which carries the pivot 105. At thejunction of arms 107, 109 is a shaft 110 on which is mounted a roller orwheel 111.

Carried by shaft 110 and pivot pin 105 is a strap 112, with the wheel orroller 111 disposed between said strap and said -bell crank 106.

Strap 112 has an upward extension 113 spaced from a stop 114 on saidbracket 104, when the chair is in the upright position of FIG. 2. Asshown in said FIG. 2, the bell crank 106 is swung up above platformportion or rail 16, so that the rocker can rock back and forth freely.

Fixed to the inside of rail 15 is a bracket 120 having an upwardly andforwardly projecting upper end 121 carrying a screw 122 adjustablyscrewed through a suitable hole in said upper end. Said screw 122 has arearwardly extending hook 123. Interconnecting said hook 123 with a pin124 on arm 107 of bell crank 106, and located between shaft 110 andpivot 108, is a coil tension overcenter spring 125.

Said spring 125 in the sitting position of FIG. 2, is located abovepivot pin 105 of the bell crank 106 and tends to keep said bell crank inraised non-blocking position to keep the roller or wheel 111 in raisednon-operative, non-blocking position.

However, when the seat is pushed rearwardly to the TV or partiallyreclining position of FIG. 3, link 103 is pushed rearwardly to swing thebell crank 106 in a clockwise direction, downwardly about pivot 105,thereby causing wheel 111 to move down and contact rail 16, therebymoving the coil tension spring below pivot 105, to retain the bell crankin down position. The rocker will now be blocked against rearwardrocking movement.

It will be noted that when the rocker is rocked in the FIG. 2 position,the spring 125 will be tensioned on each rearward rocking movement andwill yieldingly urge the rocker to a forward rocking movement. Thisaction is in addition to the spring action of the usual platform springs(not shown) of the rocker, to thereby produce a better and morecomfortable rocking action.

As the wheel 111 strikes the rail 16, it tends to rock the rockerforwardly. Only rearward rocking is prevented.

As the seat and backrest move from the intermediate or TV position ofFIG. 3 to the fully reclining position of FIG. 4, link 103 swings upabout its rear pivot 108 Without substantially affecting the bell crank106. In its down position, movement of bell crank 106 in a clockwisedirection is prevented because of contact of extension 113 of strap 112with the stop pin 114.

Since the overcenter spring 125 pulls forwardly on arm 107 of the bellcrank 106, said spring acts as a means to yieldingly prevent the seatfrom moving rearwardly, and hence acts to yieldingly prevent the legrest from opening up or projecting forwardly accidentally during rockingmovement, and also to prevent accidental reclining movement duringrocking movement.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a platform, a rocker rockably mounted thereon, bodysupporting means, means on the rocker to support the body supportingmeans for movement relative to the rocker, means controlled by movementof the body supporting means for preventing rearward rocking movement ofsaid rocker on said platform, said preventing means comprising blockingmeans movably mounted on said rocker, means connecting said blockingmeans to said body supporting means, and means on said blocking means tocontact a portion of said platform in one position of said blockingmeans, said connecting means and blocking means being arranged to retainsaid blocking means in spaced relation above said portion of saidplatform in one position of said body supporting means, and overcenterspring means to bias said blocking means in said contacting and in saidspaced positions thereof, said overcenter spring means comprising a coiltension spring anchored at one end to means fixed with respect to theplatform, and the other end of the spring being attached to saidblocking means.

2. In combination, a platform, a rocker mounted on said platform forrocking movement, a seat, a backrest, means to pivotally connect saidseat to said backrest, a front bell crank, a rear bell crank, said frontand rear bell cranks being pivotally mounted on said rocker, each ofsaid front and rear bell cranks having a forwardly extending leg and adownwardly extending leg and being pivoted to said rocker at thejuncture of said legs, a link pivotally connecting the ends of saiddownwardly extending legs of said bell cranks, a rear control bell crankpivotally mounted on the end of the forwardly extending leg of said rearbell crank, a front operating bell crank pivotally mounted on the end ofthe forwardly extending leg of said front bell crank, means to mountsaid seat on said rear control bell crank and said front operating bellcrank, a lock link pivoted to said rocker, at one end, the other end ofsaid lock link having a pin extending outwardly therefrom, a leg of saidrear control bell crank being formed with a slot, said pin beingslidably received in said slot, and a rocking motion blocking bell crankpivotally mounted on said rocker, and link means connecting saidblocking bell crank to said seat.

3. The combination of claim 2, said rocking motion blocking bell crankcomprising a pair of legs forming a V, a roller mounted at the junctureof said legs of said blocking bell crank, said roller being engageablewith said platform in a position thereof, said pivotal connection ofsaid blocking bell crank to said rocker being located on one leg of saidpair of legs, a strap on said blocking bell crank parallel to said oneleg, said roller being disposed between said one leg and strap, and aspring interconnecting said platform with the other leg of said blockingbell crank.

4. In combination, a platform, a rocker rockably mounted thereon, bodysupporting means, means on the rocker to support the body supportingmeans for movement relative to the rocker, means controlled by movementof the body supporting means for preventing rearward rocking movement ofsaid rocker on said platform, said preventing means comprising a Vshaped blocking member having a first leg joined to a second leg at anapex, a roller mounted on the blocking member at said apex, means topivotally connect the first leg to said rocker at a point spaced fromthe apex, link means to connect the second leg of said blocking memberto said body supporting means for rotating said blocking member in adirection for moving the roller downwardly when said body supportingmeans moves rearwardly, and a coil tension spring connected at its rearend to an intermediate portion of said second leg and extendingforwardly therefrom, and means to connect the front end of the spring tothe platform at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection ofsaid blocking member to said rocker, whereby rearward rocking movementof the rocker will tension said spring, and said spring being locatedabove said pivotal connection of said blocking member to said rockerwhen said body supporting means is in position for upright sitting tobias said body supporting means to said position, and said spring movingbelow said pivotal connection of said blocking member to said rockerwhen said body supporting means is moved to a reclining position wherebyto bias said body supporting means into said last mentioned position.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited by the Examiner3,137,521 6/1964 Re 297--85 3 141 700 7/1964 Fletcher 297--89 X ITEDATES PATENTS 5 i 297 261 3,162,483 12/1964 Fletcher 29789 2/1884Winchestgrfl; :-297 261 X 5 3,163,464 12/1964 Martm et a1. 28785 6/1886Doubler 297--261 OREIG ATE 3/1961 Jelinek 297--89 X F N P 7 9 2 Fletcher297 5 864,906 Great Bntam.

12/1962 Belisle et a1. 297-316 X Y 6/1963 Fletcher 297 89 10 FRANK B.SHERR Y, Primary Exammer. 5/ 1964 Mohler 29789 J. T. MCCALL, AssistantExaminer.

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLATFORM, A ROCKER ROCKABLY MOUNTED THEREON, BODYSUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS ON THE ROCKER TO SUPPORT THE BODY SUPPORTINGMEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE ROCKER, MEANS CONTROLLED BY MOVEMENTOF THE BODY SUPPORTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING REARWARD ROCKING MOVEMENT OFSAID ROCKER ON SAID PLATFORM, SAID PREVENTING MEANS COMPRISING BLOCKINGMEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROCKER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID BLOCKINGMEANS TO SAID BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID BLOCKING MEANS TOCONTACT A PORTION OF SAID PLATFORM IN ONE POSITION OF SAID BLOCKINGMEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS AND BLOCKING MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO RETAINSAID BLOCKING MEANS IN SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID PORTION OF SAIDPLATFORM IN ONE POSITION OF SAID BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, AND OVERCENTERSPRING MEANS TO BIAS SAID BLOCKING MEANS IN SAID CONTACTING AND IN SAIDSPACED POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID OVERCENTER SPRING MEANS COMPRISING A COILTENSION SPRING ANCHORED AT ONE END TO MEANS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THEPLATFORM, AND THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING BEING ATTACHED TO SAIDBLOCKING MEANS.